Overview

This portfolio provides insights into our research on the accuracy and possible bias of the Spotify API song ratings when comparing Western and Non-Western music. The Non-Western variable was further separated into music from China, India, and the Middle East. Participants were asked to rate five songs of each Non-Western culture, of which two were considered contemporary and three from a more traditional background, based on two different categories that the Spotify API provides: valence and energy. To capture ratings of Western music, eight songs from Western-based artists were selected to represent the comparison group, again using four classical and four contemporary songs. We analyzed whether there were any differences in human- and Spotify-made ratings of these songs, considering different variables: the human rater’s ethnic background, whether the rated song is traditional or contemporary, and obviously whether the song comes form a Non-Western or Western background. On this page you’ll be able to get an overview of the results of our research.